Harman leverages 5G for ADAS

Harman demonstrates the potential of Vehicle-to-Pedestrian 5G, where connectivity provides the ability to see through objects and around corners with advanced proximity scanning.

Connected car technology specialist Harman recently unveiled a new ADAS use case, called Vehicle-to-Pedestrian, which forewarns drivers and pedestrians of potential safety conflicts through the use of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology. Part of Harman’s safety system technologies, Vehicle-to-Pedestrian can be enhanced through 5G-powered C-V2X networks, which are set to arrive in the coming years.

“Creating technologies that help prevent the injury of drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists is absolutely paramount,” said Dr Mike Peters, president of Harman Connected Car. “By introducing 5G technology to the car in a way that is both meaningful and practical, Vehicle-to-Pedestrian is an exciting innovation that will make our roads safer – and also has the potential to save lives.”

In-car, Vehicle-to-Pedestrian can operate on low latency 5G peer-to-peer signals to identify objects in the vehicle’s path through proximity scanning. Similarly, pedestrians or cyclists with a C-V2X-enabled mobile device will also receive an alert that a vehicle is crossing their path. As a result, vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists can be alerted to potential safety conflicts, even in situations where advanced cameras can’t see obstructions – such as around corners, or through parked vehicles.

Harman’s Vehicle-to-Pedestrian is only one of many safety enhancements enabled by V2X technology, which has defined the peer-to-peer communications protocols that enable situational awareness between vehicles. Now, with the maturing of 5G technologies and networks, C-V2X creates new opportunities for vehicles to communicate with ever more of their surroundings – including other vehicles, road infrastructure and control systems, as well as low-visibility road users like pedestrians and cyclists.